Well, the Redskins Blog is coming through in the clutch for you again — in a somewhat limited fashion, however.

Redskins Public Relations was kind enough to let us in on the uniform numbers for the eight 2014 Redskins draft picks, although these are just the numbers they’ve been assigned for this week’s rookie minicamp, and are definitely subject to change.

(You’ll remember, Ryan Kerrigan, for example, was originally assigned No. 53 before he went on to change a little later to No. 91.)

Remember, these numbers have just been assigned for these guys for this week’s rookie minicamp, and are definitely subject to change.

When the team releases the names of the college free agents it’s also bringing along for the rookie minicamp, you know the Redskins Blog will be all over releasing those assigned uniform numbers, as well.

230 tackles, 39.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and countless sleepless nights for opposing quarterbacks–yeah, it makes sense why Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo is considered the top No. 13 overall pick of the last decade by NFL.com.

Referred to as the top “rock star” at that particular slot since 2003, here are some of his best quarterback rockin’ moments since 2009:

Orakpo tracked down Detroit’s prized Lion in Week 3 of the 2009 season for his first career sack. Check out the play starting at the 3:07 mark of this video:

In December of his rookie season, Orakpo sent two different Oakland Raider quarterbacks home with some gifts—stories of how it feels to get sacked by a muscle-bound Texan twice. His four sacks that day is still a career-high.

Remembering the day:

In 2011, Orakpo showed the St. Louis Rams what a healthy dosage of skill and power can do on the gridiron (see one of his 2.5 sacks that day and him bulldozing a Ram with a headlights look at the 2:23 mark):

Rebounding from a 2012 season where he played in only two games due to injury, Orakpo recorded 10 sacks and his first career pick six in 2013:

For what it’s worth, one season after the burgundy and gold selected Orakpo, the Philadelphia Eagles selected linebacker Brandon Graham. In 48 games, Graham has 11.5 sacks.

Also, to ensure you’re fully prepared for the best party of the entire weekend at FedExField, check out some of the other burgundy and gold items currently selling like hot cakes such as the two items seen below.

OK, they didn’t really cry, but several Redskins players and team personnel Wednesday evening enjoyed a special screening of the movie “Draft Day,” which is due to be released in theaters nationwide April 11.

I won’t be like that guy on Facebook that spoiled the “How I Met Your Mother” finale, so if you’re looking for a full recap of the flick, you’re in the wrong place.

But here’s the gist of the movie — which stars Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner, Denis Leary (and even former Redskins player Terry Crews) — according to IMDb.com:

“At the NFL Draft, (Cleveland Browns) general manager Sonny Weaver has the opportunity to rebuild his team when he trades for the number one pick. He must decide what he’s willing to sacrifice on a life-changing day for a few hundred young men with NFL dreams.”

The movie features lots of twists and turns, and even — shockingly — intertwines a love story in there somewhere.

Cousins — a fourth-round (102nd overall) pick of the Redskins in the 2012 NFL Draft — said he enjoyed “Draft Day.”

“It was good,” he said. “It was exciting, but there was a good twist. Good acting. I expected it to have a little bit more drama than real life, which you can expect from Hollywood, but I thought they did a good job.”

Cousins knows all about the twists and turns a NFL Draft prospect goes through, much like those parlayed in “Draft Day.” He said his stomach was in knots for three days until he heard his name called by the last team he expected to pick him — the Redskins, which had picked Robert Griffin III No. 2 overall a couple days earlier.

“I would say when it comes to the draft, you have to expect the unexpected. I learned that first-hand,” Cousins said. “Of 32 teams, I really would’ve picked the Redskins to be the 32nd-most likely to pick me, and sure enough, that was the one that picked me. You have to expect the unexpected, and I think this movie does a good job of demonstrating that.”

Kerrigan said “Draft Day” brought back all the feelings from his NFL Draft experience. He was taken 16th overall in the first round by the Redskins in 2011.

“It was just a lot of excitement, a lot of anticipation and a lot of joy when I finally got my name called,” he said.

Kerrigan was asked by the Washington Post’s Scott Allen if he still had his suit from that day.

Despite the fact that we are still 34 days from the start of training camp for the 2013 season, mock drafts and prospect fits for all 32 NFL franchises are being floated all over cyberspace—for the 2014 NFL Draft.

With the 79th annual NFL Draft (only!) 321 days away Bleacher Report’s Dilan Ames takes a look at three possible players that could come to our Nation’s Capital next year.

So without further ado here is a man that needs no introduction to quarterback Robert Griffin III.

After deciding to stay at Baylor University for his senior season, Ames sees offensive lineman Cyril Richardson as a candidate that could block for No. 10 on Sundays—something he did on Saturdays for two years.

During Griffin III’s junior season at Waco, he set the football world “on fire” with nearly 5,000 total yards. While he obviously deserved the attention for his Heisman-winning campaign, he couldn’t have done it without Richardson.

Here are some highlights of Richardson (68) and Griffin III in 2011.

“He’s played both right tackle and guard in college but looks like a better fit at guard. Regardless of what he ends up playing in the NFL, he would be a good fit for Washington’s zone-blocking scheme and will fill a need either way.”

Over the last two seasons the University of Alabama has gone 25-2 and added two more National Championships to their trophy case behind a swarming defense.

In the middle of all that is linebacker Trey DePriest.

“He was second in tackles on Alabama’s squad last year (56) and will be taking on an even bigger role in his upcoming junior season. His combination of speed and size make him an ideal guy for the Redskins; he would be a fun new toy for Jim Haslett.”

If DePriest where to indeed come to the Redskins, he would just another high profile linebacker in a unit that is loaded with Pro Bowlers (London Fletcher, Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo) and the always reliable Perry Riley.

Currently, the Washington Redskins have 12 receivers on the roster. The experience level ranges from the Father Time warrior in Santana Moss to undrafted guys like Nick Williams to recently signed veterans Donte Stallworth and Devery Henderson.

Regardless of how they got to the DMV, the morale of the story is you can never have too many weapons—especially with the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year behind center.

Insert Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans.

Evan’s recorded over 1,000 yards and five touchdowns last year as a freshman. Entering 2013 he is expected to be the Aggies top target and it’s easy to see why after looking at his highlights.

“He has top-tier leaping ability and has tremendous body control. If Washington was to add Evans, then they would have the potential to become one of the most dangerous offenses in the NFL.”

Only 10 and a half more months to find out if Ames has a career in forecasting the future.

There’s no mystery that the Redskins are the only team without a first round pick in the draft and the likelihood of trading into the first round is slim to none. But hey, the team quote, unquote ‘mortgaged’ the future for last year’s second overall pick.

Credit the coaching staff and front office for being proactive and making a deal the Rams couldn’t refuse in order to move up and take QB Robert Griffin III. Franchise quarterbacks with Griffin III’s raw talent and ability come around once in a blue moon and the team did what they needed to do to snatch the Heisman trophy winning quarterback.

There’s absolutely no reason to be discouraged that the team’s first selection will come on day two of the draft. And hey, impact players can be found in the second round, especially in a deep draft like this one.

Here’s a list of a few of the players selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft who started and produced immediately for their respective teams.

In fact, every finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year, with the exception of Panthers LB Luke Kuechly, was drafted in the second round. That’s a good sign that great talent can be found in the second round seeing as the main needs for the Redskins are on the defensive side of the ball.

Furthermore, six of the ten players nominated for Offensive or Defensive Rookie of the Year were selected after the first round. Only Griffin III, QB Andrew Luck, RB Doug Martin and LB Luke Kuechly were picked in the first round.

Moral of the story, there will be talent on the board that can help fill a need when the Redskins pick 51st overall.

Check out yesterday’s Mock Draft Update for more on players who experts expect the Redskins to consider this April.

Last year, the impact player of the draft was quarterback Robert Griffin III, who joined forces with running back Alfred Morris for immediate rookie impact.

This year, the Redskins will again be looking for a player that can come in and contribute right away. The difference this year is the team will have to wait until the second round to find said player. But have no fear: a playmaker can be found at number 51.

With the release of CB DeAngelo Hall, it goes without saying that the roster is pretty slim in the secondary which means the team will certainly need to address the position in the draft, barring any trades or free agent signings.

The good news for Redskins fans is that this year’s draft is incredibly deep in the secondary with talented players across the board. Consensus among NFL experts is that this draft class has upwards of double-digit safeties and cornerbacks with NFL-starter caliber skills whom could have an immediate impact and should be available deep into the second round.

The uncertainty is what order they will come off the board. So let’s go ahead and take a look at our updated Mock Draft Tracker and a few players the experts think the Redskins may have their eye on.

Scouting Combine Bio: “Amerson is one of the more interesting prospects in the draft. His play making and ball skills are reminiscent of Asante Samuel. However, unlike Samuel, Amerson isn’t nearly as fluid out of his breaks or as technically sound in the fundamentals of the position. Amerisont is tall, physical, and some may project him to free safety because of his size, but it is likely that some team will take a chance on Amerson as a cornerback if he can prove that his foot quickness and fluidity are up to par.” Click here for Amerson’s complete combine profile.

Scouting Combine Bio: “Taylor is a physical and athletic cornerback looking to be the sixth Boise State defensive back to be drafted by NFL teams over the last eight years. He missed most of the second half of 2011 with a stress fracture in his leg, but returned with a vengeance during his senior year by excelling in man coverage on downfield routes. Since he remained helathy during his senior year, Taylor is poised for a second day or mid round selection, but he would be wise to improve his play against the run when in space.” Click here for Taylor’s complete combine profile.

Scouting Combine Bio: “Though shorter than most top safety prospects, Jefferson’s leadership skills, physicality around the line of scrimmage and his coverage skills will entice teams to pick him early in the 2013 draft.” Click here for Jefferson’s complete combine profile.

Scouting Combine Bio: “Wreh-Wilson is a tall, tough corner, with some ball skills. His length and short area quickness makes him an intriguing prospect, but his inability to quickly flip his hips and his lack of deep, recovery speed will likely limit him to a zone-based scheme.” Click here for Wreh-Wilson’s complete combine profile.

The NFL Scouting Combine is complete and national pundits have updated their draft boards to include their most recent evaluations of the prospects. Many of the more well-known draft boards only offer opinions on the first round of the NFL Draft, and considering that the Redskins don’t pick until the second round (51st overall), well, projecting the first thirty two picks simply doesn’t address the interests of Redskins fans.

So, we searched the internet for those next level mock drafts that provide a broader scope and offer complete analysis on how this year’s draft may unfold.

Although opinions on the exact players that the Redskins will draft vary, the common consensus remains that the Redskins will address needs in the secondary when the team selects at number fifty one.

Updated with the most recent projections, here’s the first installment with some of the players who experts around the league predict could be wearing the burgundy and gold come April.

Scouting Combine Bio: “Elam is one of the higher profile prospects at his position due to his onfield emotion and energy when lining up big hits in the open field. The junior thrives when his nunmber is called, and Elam was very visible since he frequently lined up in the box at strong safety. However, when looking beyond the splash plays, Elam lacks urgency to his game and can be seen standing around while others make the play. That combined with his tendency to launch himself at ball carriers rather than make form tackles may cause some evaluators to be a bit apprhensive. But, if the Gator can harness the electricity he flashes, Elam could end up being one of the top safeties in this class and is a potential first-round pick.” Click here for Elam’s complete combine profile.

Scouting Combine Bio: “One of the hardest-hitting safeties in the 2013 draft class, Cyprien offers enough range to be reliable in box coverage while displaying an aggressive mentality againt ball carriers and receivers. He plays smart, and that might be the most improtant trait when looking at safeties. However, despite it being unique, Cyprien doesn’t have a very well known name … yet.” Click here for Cyprien’s complete combine profile.

Scouting Combine Bio: “The next SEC safety on which scouts have their eye, Reid brings the size, athleticism, intelligence and toughness to become an impact player in coverage (14 passes defended in the last two seasons) as well as against the run (91 total tackles) at the next level. The junior can get too overaggressive with his angles, but if Reid can rein in the athleticism, he has plenty of range to make plays all over the field.” Click here for Reid’s complete combine profile.

Scouting Combine Bio: “Wreh-Wilson is a tall, tough corner, with some ball skills. His length and short area quickness makes him an intriguing prospect, but his inability to quickly flip his hips and his lack of deep, recovery speed will likely limit him to a zone-based scheme.” Click here for Wreh-Wilson’s complete combine profile.

Scouting Combine Bio: “Teams that value physicality and tackling ability from their corners will surely like Ryan. He’s an active, physical player that often finds himself around the football. He’s not the fastest, and will need to clean up his technique in order to be successful at the next level, but he is still likely to be a second-day selection.” Click here for Logan’s complete combine profile.

NFL Comparison: Dunta Robinson

We won’t stop here as this will be the first of weekly mock draft updates as we inch closer to April’s draft.

Out of the players above, who do you think would be a good fit in the Redskins secondary?

This time last year, the Washington Redskins were in the middle of all draft speculation. The team was slated to select from the number five slot as quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III to cornerbacks Morris Claiborne and Janoris Jenkins had been linked to a spot in the Redskins locker room.

On March 14th, the team made a trade with the St. Louis Rams that shook the foundation of the franchise and sent shock waves across the league, trading away three first-round draft picks along with a second-round selection to move up to the number two slot to eventually select Griffin III.

It’s safe to say one year later that the trade will go down as one of the best moves in team history as Griffin III stabilized a position that has been a revolving door since the team’s Super Bowl XXVI victory in 1992. The risky transaction paid dividends for the team the moment Griffin III put on his number 1o jersey. His presence changed the attitude of the entire organization as they rode the momentum of the move all the way to an NFC East title.

One of the first-round selections that the Redskins gave up was this years pick, leaving the team without a selection until the second-round. While some might think that the draft does not carry as much importance without an opening round selection, this year’s draft may have even more significance as the Redskins look to add pieces to the puzzle in hopes of getting over the hump and into Super Bowl XLVIII.

One position that the team will explore over the next few weeks is the offensive line as they will look to add protection for Griffin III, Alfred Morris, and the league’s reigning rushing attack kings.

Find out about several possible lineman that the Redskins could pursue with the 51st overall selection and what some experts are saying about their draft stocks here:The 2012 NFL Draft brought a plethora of experienced offensive lineman that were all highly ranked in mock drafts.

Seven lineman were selected in the second round last year and all played a key role in their team’s high flying offensive attacks. Every second round selection saw at least 10 game of action in the trenches.

Mitchell Schwartz (Cleveland), Johnathan Martin (Miami), and Kelechi Osemele (Baltimore) all started every game for their respective teams. Osemele protected Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco during his incredible run to Super Bowl XLVII MVP.

Cordy Glenn (Buffalo) and Jeff Allen (Kansas City) paved the way for running backs CJ Spiller and Jamal Charles to have career years pounding the rock.

While the Redskins talent evaluators closely evaluated each and every move of all 58 men, chances are guys like Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher, and Chance Warmack will not be as monitored as closely as they are projected to go long before Washington is goes on the clock.

Predicting where players will go in the draft is an impossible science to master. While experts can usually hang their hats on predicting the first few picks correctly, after several players are taken off the board well before their prediction slot, mock drafts become obsolete.

Still though, there are many lineman who have been linked to a second round selection.

Alabama has created a dynasty of epic proportions over the last few seasons as they have claimed the BCS Championship in 2009, 2011, and 2012. The Crimson Tide has seen players such as Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Julio Jones, and Dre Kirkpatrick continue to find success in the professional ranks after their college careers ended.

Lineman Barrett Jones and DJ Fluker, however, have been in Tuscaloosa throughout the entire run to glory.

Jones is the epitome of versatility. He has seen action at right guard, left tackle, and center and won a national championship starting at each position. His experience along with fantastic zone-blocking skills could be a perfect fit in Coach Mike Shanahan’s scheme. NFL.com ranks him at an 85.3.

Fluker is a physical specimen that has an unmatched level of physicality. His 87-inch wingspan is simply unheard of and prevents defenders from getting an outside edge on him. NFL.com states that Fluker also “Flashes footwork to reach linebackers at the second level, who can’t separate from him once he locks on” and gives him a 85.5 grade.

Sticking with the SEC, Larry Warford of Kentucky and Dallas Thomas of Tennessee are two lineman who could be coming to Washington next year to help the Redskins defend their NFC East crown.

Warford has turned heads recently after stringing together several games showcasing his ability en route to an Associated Press Third Team All American selection this year. Despite checking in at 6’3″ and 333 pounds, his speed and agility may be his biggest assets.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has stated that he believes that Warford is one of the most underrated prospects in this year’s draft. He comes into the draft with a 85.3 rating.

Thomas flashed his ability against some of the best players in the country during the year, catching the eye of several scouts. He has the versatility to play on either side of the line and shows a level of flexibility that is uncommon for men his size.

His profile on CBS Sports states “Thomas plays with excellent knee bend, giving him the base to handle powerful bull rushers, as well as the spring to easily move left and right to remain square to quicker pass rushers. Thomas has an explosive punch that he uses often to knock defenders back in the running game. He steps up quickly to seal off the reeling defender and erase him from the play.” With an 82.7 grade and as a projected second round pick, he could be on the Redskins radar.

Oday Aboushi’s draft stock has skyrocketed since his impressive display of power during the Senior Bowl. The 6’6″ tackle out of the University of Virginia could be the next Caviler to be drafted as the school has produced a long list of players who have a reputation of longevity and production. His 78.1 ranking places him 11th overall among line prospects.

Keep close attention to these guys at their respective pro days, as one of them could be selected as the next piece of the puzzle in the Redskins’ quest for the Lombardi Trophy.

.

.

.

]]>http://blog.redskins.com/2013/03/05/could-redskins-go-o-line-with-no-51/feed/0sczardaRavens Redskins FootballFirst Time At The Combinehttp://blog.redskins.com/2013/02/22/first-time-at-the-combine/
http://blog.redskins.com/2013/02/22/first-time-at-the-combine/#commentsSat, 23 Feb 2013 04:46:18 +0000http://blog.redskins.com/?p=19996236]]>There’s one word that can describe the city of Indianapolis in February: Cold. Maybe a better word to use is frigid.

Nonetheless, our plane touched down earlier today in Indy, fresh off of an ice storm that impacted much of the Midwest Thursday night into Friday morning. But despite the bitter cold temperatures outside, we ventured over to Lucas Oil Stadium to catch the 2013 NFL Combine.

The five block trek through the city streets was worth the energy and excitement palpitating through the hundreds of media that were gathered together upon our arrival.

Today, kickers and punters took the field to show off their talents and abilities to NFL scouts representing all 32 teams. But as exciting as coffin corner punts are, we naturally turned our attention to the running backs and wide receivers who reported to the stadium today.

For the first time, these former college stars experienced a taste of what an NFL interview room feels like. The vibe inside was electric. The media were firing questions. Coaches, scouts and GMs were deep in analysis. And the athletes were prepared.

This was really the first time that media from around the country were able to see these college stars up-close and personal. And you can be assured that, like sharks in the water, each media member was in a feeding frenzy trying to breakdown each player’s answers as they took the podium.

We can only imagine that for each player there must have been an overwhelming feeling in what seemed to be a charged atmosphere. But beyond that speculation, the players handled themselves pretty well and there’s not much to report from today’s interview process. The real excitement will come when these players take the field tomorrow.

Over the next few days, we’ll try to bring you a little different perspective from this year’s combine. Our efforts will not necessarily be dedicated toward, for lack of a better term, ‘overanalyzing’ players who’s draft stocks may or may not climb and/or fall, but instead to bring you all the behind-the-scenes coverage that you may not get without watching boring NFL Network coverage for, well, 24 hours.

We know that Redskins fans lead busy lives and the truth of the matter is that a lot can change over the next two months before April’s draft.

Yes, we’ll talk about the players here and there in relation to the Redskins needs. And yes, we’ll bullet point the top storylines from around the league each day that we’re here. But we’ll also give you exclusive and unique Redskins content with a twist that no other media outlet will.

Why? Because we care about our fans and we want you all to dominate this Monday’s water cooler talk around the office.

Changes are being considered for new sideline concussion test procedures. Stay tuned as we get more clarity on these developments.

Tune in for the Redskins (and Google’s) first-ever Combine Google Plus Hangout, featuring Redskins.com’s Brian Tinsman, CSNWashington’s Tarik El-Bashir, and Bleacher Report’s Will Carroll. The Hangout will take place on the official Redskins Google+ Page live Saturday at 12:30pm and will feature fan questions, news and team analysis from Indianapolis.

Look for a photo album tomorrow detailing the sights of the 2013 NFL Combine and stay tuned for more Redskins coverage!

For more complete coverage, be sure to follow Redskins social media. Here’s how: